ambivalent | hes

33

~LYLAS POV~

Taking my seat behind the wooden table, I glanced around the court room. Part of the jury was still missing, and we couldn't start until the rest of them got here. Sighing, I smoothed out my dress.

I began organizing the papers in front of me, trying to keep my mind off of Harry for now. I reordered them over and over again until the jury was finally complete.

The judge ordered them to bring Harry in, and I held my breath as I glanced towards the doors where he would be entering. The room seemed to get silent as the doors opened, revealing the two guards holding the boy who murdered my father.

I first noticed the unshaven beard that covered his face. Then how skinny he looked. Did he eat in jail? They didn't have very good food, and considering the circumstances, he was probably stressed. I felt bad for a second, then remembered where we were and why we were here, and the feeling slowly went away. Lastly, I noticed his dark circles when he finally made eye contact with me. He didn't look like the Harry I had loved, but more like the Harry I had come to dislike.

They set him in a chair next to the table where his lawyer was sitting. He had his head down, so I looked away.

Then the judge started the session.

They stated that the case was Dean vs. Styles, and they had my mother argue her case first.

"Your honor," she spoke, her tone firm,"this man sitting before us today is the reason my daughter is currently living without a father. He admitted to his wrong doings and has even turned himself in, so on behalf of my only child, I would argue that Harry Styles is, in fact, guilty."

The judge nodded and ordered my mother to take her seat beside me. She took my hand in hers and looked in my eyes, smiling as her thumb rubbed my hand in a comforting manner.

Harry's lawyer stood up and began to speak.

"In the short few days in which I have gotten to know the man who is Harry Styles, he has presented me with an interesting arguement. An argument in which I believe proves him not guilty. Mr. Styles has requested to bring his story upon us himself, if that is fine, your honor."

"That will be acceptable." The judge stated.

Harry's lawyer then sat down, and it was our side again.

"Miss. Dean," the judge spoke to me,"you have the floor."

Taking a deep breath, I rose from my seat and walked up to the booth beside the judge. Sliding into the seat, I looked out at the people before me. They were all looking at me, waiting for me to start speaking. My heart beating, I cleared my throat.

"My father passed away when I was young, and I had always thought that I had known the cause of his death. I always believed it was his heart tumor. At least thats what the doctor told us. But it turns out that that wasn't the case. He was killed by a living being, that person being the boy with the mesmerizing green eyes that I have come to love. I trusted Harry. I thought I had knew everything about him. But it turns out there was one thing I didn't know. And that's the reason we are all gathered here today in this court room. Because Harry Styles... is guilty of murder."

It was silent after that. I dared a glance at Harry. He was looking at me, his eyes searching mine. I could see the hurt on his face, the urgency to tell his story. I looked away. I didn't care what he had to say. He will pay for what he did. However he did it.

"You may go back to your seat now, Miss. Dean." The judge ordered.

Nodding, I got up and walked back to my seat next to my mother.

"You did great, sweetie." My mom told me.

I smiled at her as the judge told Harry's lawyer it was his turn.

The guards followed Harry as they led him to where I had just sat. Once he was seated they remained by his side.

Harry didn't look up at first. He didn't say or do anything. Instead he just sat there, staring down at his lap until finally he looked up. He stared directly at me and I watched as his eyes grew, as if I was his source of energy. Then his deep, raspy British voice spoke out.

"I remember the day I had killed Lyla's father. It was winter and I was visiting my friend Niall. We were driving home from a party, and he was drunk. I was sober, so I drove. We were going down this road and it was hard to focus because Niall kept distracting me. He's a crazy drunk. I remember him leaning over and grabbing the steering wheel, turning it towards the sidewalk. And as I tried to get it from his grasp, I felt a bump and I hit the brakes. I prayed it was just something small in the road that we had ran over, but whatever, or whoever, it was had flown over the windshield and onto the pavement behind us. I knew we had hit someone. I wanted to take the man to the hospital, but Niall convinced me not to. He was saying something about going to jail but I couldn't think straight because I had just hit someone with my car. I took someones life away. And I know now that there is no excuse for what I have done. And I wish that I would've gotten Lyla's father help, because if I had he might still be here today. I know I should've told you, Lyla. I should've turned myself in earlier. I should've been more careful behind the wheel. The list goes on and on. But there's one thing I would never change. And that's the time I've spent with you."

My eyes were filled with tears as I took all of this new information in. Harry and I hadn't broke eye contact once, and I could see it in his eyes that he was telling the truth. That he had never purposely killed my father. That he still loves me. And as I looked at him, I knew I had felt the same way.

I watched as the guards took him back to his seat. I had a decision to make, and I had to make it quick.

My feet thought faster than my head, and I was running towards Harry. I could hear the jury gasping and my mother saying my name, but I didn't care.

I reached Harry, and before the guards could react, I kissed him. Although it was short due to the fact that the guards pulled me away, it seemed longer than it was. We were both dragged back to our seats.

The court room seemed to be in hysterics. The amount of chatter that had arose was uncontrollable. It took multiple attempts for the judge to bring the court back to order.

"It seems as if there is a change in the story." The judge said.

"Your honor, may we have a second?" My mother asked.

The judge nodded and my mother led me out of the room. Once we were alone, she spoke.

"Do you believe Harry?" She asked.

"Mom, I know he's telling the truth." I responded.

She remained silent for a moment.

"So do you find him guilty or not guilty?" She finally asked.

"He's not guilty." I spoke.